SUMMER FOCUS

We are already enjoying summer activities since the English weather has been cooperating so far; BBQ’s, picnics in the park…. Yay! Also, we will soon be finished with school associated activities. Before we know it, school will be out for the summer! Even if you don’t have school aged children in your home, the atmosphere and rhythm changes a bit, doesn’t it?

It is the same with Grace Place. So as we have completed our Living Out God’s Grace series, we will focus our thoughts to prayer during the summer. As we have heard it said, “we are too busy not to pray.”

I will be using EVERYDAY PRAYERS, written by Scotty Smith and published by Baker Books, 2011. (You can buy this online on any of the major websites.)

From it I will share scripture and prayers from this book to assist us in this channel of grace in our ordinary, every day living this summer.

Today’s Prayer: A Prayer for Fresh Endurance and Encouragement

‘May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God.’ Romans 15:5-7

“Heavenly Father, I’m like a hungry little bird with my mouth wide open this morning. I’m glad you’re the God who gives endurance and encouragement, for I’m starving for both. Bring an abundance of both, Father- ‘good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over!’ Luke 6:38.
I praise you for these twin sisters of grace. One without the other would simply not be enough. Endurance without encouragement can atrophy into heartless stoicism. Encouragement without endurance can wither into short-lived enthusiasm. Give us both, bunches of both.
Father, I’m not just praying for me but for the whole family of believers with whom I’m so privileged to walk. Along with endurance and encouragement, I ask you to give us a fresh supersized order of unity. How else will we be able to glorify you with one heart and one mouth? How else will we even want your glory above our own preferences and priorities?
Our church family is so much like the churches Paul was addressing in Rome. We come from many different backgrounds. We’ve been rescued from nonreligion and gospelless religion. We have different perspectives and varying passions. We are at different stages in knowing how to follow Jesus and knowing what following Jesus actually means. All in all, we are prime candidates for a fresh visitation of the Holy Spirit, for he is the true Spirit of Unity.
Father whether or not we actually get to experience a full-bore revival, help us to accept one another just as Jesus has already accepted each of us. This brings you great praise. The gospel we already have is all the gospel we actually need. Our city and the nations of the world are desperate to see Christ-followers who know how to love one another when it’s easy and when it’s not. Le us be just such a people. We pray expectantly, in Jesus’ mighty and merciful name.
Amen.”